Golf course

ABSTRACT

A system for accurately determining the distance a golf ball has traveled from a tee comprising a zero base marker mounted on the tee, and at least one fairway marker mounted in the fairway with the distance from the base marker appearing on the fairway marker, said markers being mounted flush with the ground and including a base plate, a plurality of pins extending downwardly from the base plate and having a cone-shaped barb on the end for anchoring the base plate in the ground, numerals extending upwardly from the base plate to indicate distance, a top plate, a pair of bosses extending upwardly from the bottom plate and having outwardly projecting sidewalls, a pair of recesses formed in the upper plate and having inwardly flaring sidewalls, said recesses being adapted to receive said bosses to hold the plates together, and a window formed in the top plate and adapted to frame the numerals in the bottom plate. A second fairway marker may be mounted in the fairway and may have the distance from the middle of the green appearing thereon.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Joseph Zausmer 9126 Dale Road, Philadelphia, Pa. 19152 [21] App]. No. 817,855 [22] Filed Apr. 21, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 [54] GOLF COURSE 10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 273/176 A, 52/103 [51 A63b 67/02 [50] 273/176, 32, 134 CG; 52/103, 104, 105

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,480,683 1/1924 Holbrook 273/176 (A-2) 2,003,074 5/1935 Gage 273/176 (A) 2,180,049 11/1939 Hall 273/134 (CG) FOREIGN PATENTS 222,740 10/1924 Great Britain 273/176 (A-l) L Q/ 27 g I 230 YDS B 23 Y TEE 25o YDS Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney-John F A. Earley ABSTRACT: A system for accurately determining the distance a golf ball has traveled from a tee comprising a zero base marker mounted on the tee, and at least one fairway marker mounted in the fairway with the distance from the base marker appearing on the fairway marker, said markers being mounted flush with the ground and including a base plate, a plurality of pins extending downwardly from the base plate and having a cone-shaped barb on the end for anchoring the base plate in the ground, numerals extending upwardly from the base plate to indicate distance, a top plate, a pair of bosses extending upwardly from the bottom plate and having outwardly projecting sidewalls, a pair of recesses formed in the upper plate and having inwardly flaring sidewalls, said recesses being adapted to receive said bosses to hold the plates together, and a window formed in the top plate and adapted to frame the numerals in the bottom plate. A second fairway marker may be mounted in the fairway and may have the distance from the middle of the green appearing thereon.

PATENIEB AUG] 7197:

FIG.

THIS IS YOUR BASE MARKER FIG. 5'.

FIG. 2.

INVENTOR FIG. 6.

FIG.7

JOSEPH ZAUSMER 4:243 ATTORNEY com COURSE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the game of golf, and more particularly relates to a system for accurately measuring the distance a golf ball has traveled off the tee, and also measuring the distance of a golf ball from the middle of a green.

Many times a golfer who hits a good tee shot would like to know the distance that the shot traveled. This distance is difficult to measure, especially for the beginning golfer who is inexperienced in gaging distances. Yet knowledge of the distance that the ball has traveled on a good shot is important because it gives the beginning golfer a good feeling and more confidence, and it is also important in selecting the right club for the next shot.

Some golf courses are provided with ISO-yard bushes, or signs positioned at the side of the fairway in the rough, but the bushes may die or blend with other foliage so as not to be observable. The signs usually comprise an .arrow which is mounted on a long pin that is inserted into the ground. Such signs are easily knocked to the ground, or pulled up and removed.

Even if the ISO-yard markers are in pace, to measure the length of his drive the golfer must estimate the distance of his ball from the green using the lSO-yard marker, then subtract the distance from the length of the hole appearing on the scorecard. However,'this is inaccurate since the tee markers may be placed at any position on the tee, and the golfer may not be aware of the spot on the tee from which the distance to the hole is measured and would not know the distance between said spot and the tee markers. Accordingly, the golfer would not be able to make an appropriate adjustment to account for the position of the tee markers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a system for measuring the distance a golf ball has traveled from a tee and the distance a golf ball is lying from the middle of the green. This is accomplished by providing a zero base marker mounted on the tee, and at least one fairway marker mounted in the fairway with the distance from the base marker appearing on the fairway marker, and with the markers being mounted flush with the ground. The base marker is mounted at the front of the tee. Accordingly, to measure the length of his tee shot, the golfer estimates the distance of the ball from the fairway marker, and adds to that the distance between the base marker and the tee markers. The markers comprise a bottom plate wi numbers indicating distance appearing thereon, a top plate with a window through which the bottom plate numbers appear, anchoring means for anchoring the bot tom plate to ground, and connecting means for joining the top plate to the bottom plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages of this invention, including its simplicity and economy, as well as the ease with which it may be adapted to existing equipment, will further become ap- 7 parent hereinafter and in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in top plan of a representative hole on a golf course;

FIG. 2 is a view in top plan of a bottom plate of a marker constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 3 is a view in top plan of a top plate of a marker constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation of the top and bottom plates of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a view in top plan of another embodiment of top late;

p FIG. 6 is a view in top plan of another top plate embodiment, and

FIG. 7 is a view inside elevation of a marker mounted on the fairway flush with the ground.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Although specific terms are used in the following description for clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the structure shown in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Turning now to the specific embodiments of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a representative golf hole including a tee 11 from which the golf ball is hit to start play of the hole, a fairway l3, and a green 15 having a hole or cup 17 with a flag pin 19.

Tee 11 is provided with red tee markers 21, white tee markers 23, ad blue tee markers 25 positioned at different places on the tee. Women play from the red tee markers, men play from the white, and the expert players and golf pros play from the blue.

A base marker 27 is mounted flush with the ground at the front of the tee, a fairway marker 29 is mounted in the middle of the fairway 200 yards from base marker 27, a fairway marker 31 is mounted in the middle of the fairway flush with the ground 250 yards from the base marker 27, and a fairway marker 33 is mounted flush in the middle of the fairway yards from the middle of the green.

Fairway marker 31 is representative of the construction of the markers and is illustrated in FIGS. 2--4. Marker 31 includes a base plate 35, anchor means extending downwardly from base plate 35 and adapted to anchor the base plate in the ground, said anchor means including a plurality of pins 37 having a cone-shaped barb 39 on the end, numerals 41 extending upwardly from the base plate to indicate distance, a top plate 43 having a window 45 that frames the numerals 41, and means adapted to connect the top plate 43 to base plate 35, said connecting means including a pair of bosses 47 extending upwardly from bottom plate 35 and having outwardly projecting sidewalls 49, and a pair of recesses 51 having inwardly flaring sidewalls 53, with recesses 51 being adapted to receive bosses 47 to hold the plates together.

Top plate 43 has edges 55 that are beveled outwardly so as not toprotrude upwardly when the marker is mounted in the ground. Appearing on the top surface of top plate 43 is a legend "YARDS FROM BASE MARKER that positioned below the window 45 that outlines .the numerals indicating the distance from the base marker.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top plate 57 of the base marker and has on its top surface the legend THIS IS YOUR BASE MARKER."

FIG. 6 illustrates atop plate 59 of a marker such as fairway marker 33 and has on its top surface the legend YARDS FROM CENTER OF GREEN, With such markers and their clear explanatory material, even an inexperienced golfer can ascertain the distance between the tee markers 25 and base marker 27, can estimate the distance of his ball from one of the fairway markers after his drive, and can add one of the tee marker distance to the driven ball distance in order to ascertain the length of his drive.

The markers are mounted flush with the ground so as not to get in the way, and are easily inserted into the ground, but are not very easily removable so that once accurately positioned, they remain in that position.

The markers may be made of plastic material so as to resiliently snap together, or may be made of aluminum, noncorrosive metal, stainless steel, rubber, or other suitable material.

Also, the markers may be different color from the green grass so as to be more easily located by the golfer.

Iclaim:

LA combination golf course and markers for accurately determining the distance a golf ball has traveled from a tee comprising ground, a tee, a green spaced from the tee, a fairway positioned between the tee and green, a zero base marker mounted in the ground on the tee, and at least one fairway marker mounted in the ground on the fairway at a distance from the base marker, indicia appearing on the fairway marker indicating the distance from said base marker to said fairway marker, and means-for mounting said markers flush with the ground.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein a second fairway marker is anchored to the ground on the fairway at a distance fromthe middle of the green, and indicia on said second fairway marker indicating the distance from the middle of the green to said second fairway marker.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said markers include a base plate, said mounting means includes a plurality of pins having a cone-shaped barb on the end extending downwardly from the marker base plate for anchoring the base plate in the ground, said indicia includes numerals extending upwardly from the base plate to indicate distance, a top plate, means connecting the top plate to the base plate, and a window formed in the top plate for framing said numerals when the plates are connected together.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the connecting means includes a pair of bosses extending upwardly from the bottom plate, said bosses having outwardly projecting sidewalls, and a pair of recesses formed in the upper plate, said recesses having inwardly flaring sidewalls, said bosses seating in said recesses to hold the plates together.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein the top plate has edges which are beveled so as not to protrude upwardly from the ground.

6. In a hole of a golf course including ground having a tee, a green spaced away from the tee, a fairway positioned between the tee and the green, and apparatus for determining the distance the ball has been driven from the tee, comprising a zero base marker mounted in the ground at the front of the tee, indicia on the zero base marker indicating that it is the zero base marker, at least one fairway marker mounted in the ground on the fairway marker at a distance from the base marker, indicia on the fairway marker indicating the distance from said base marker to said fairway marker, and means for mounting said marker flush with the ground.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a second fairway marker is mounted flush with the ground in the fairway at a distance from the middle of the green, and indicia on said second fairway marker indicating the distance from the middle of the green to said second fairway marker.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said markers include a base plate, said mounting means includes a plurality of pins having a cone-shaped barb on the end extending downwardly from the marker base plate for anchoring the base plate in the ground, said indicia includes numerals extending upwardly from the base plate to indicate distance, a top plate, means connecting the top plate to the base plate, and a window formed in the top plate for framing said numerals when the plates are connected together.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the connecting means includes a pair of bosses extending upwardly from the bottom plate, said bosses having outwardly projecting sidewalls, and a pair of recesses formed in the upper plate, said recesses having inwardly flaring sidewalls, said bosses seating in said recesses to hold the plates together.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the top plates have edges which are beveled so as to not protrude upwardly from the ground. 

1. A combination golf course and markers for accurately determining the distance a golf ball has traveled from a tee comprising ground, a tee, a green spaced from the tee, a fairway positioned between the tee and green, a zero base marker mounted in the ground on the tee, and at least one fairway marker mounted in the ground on the fairway at a distance from the base marker, indicia appearing on the fairway marker indicating the distance from said base marker to said fairway marker, and means for mounting said markers flush with the ground.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein a second fairway marker is anchored to the ground on the fairway at a distance from the middle of the green, and indicia on said second fairway marker indicating the distance from the middle of the green to said second fairway marker.
 3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said markers include a base plate, said mounting means includes a plurality of pins having a cone-shaped barb on the end extending downwardly from the marker base plate for anchoring the base plate in the ground, said indicia includes numerals extending upwardly from the base plate to indicate distance, a top plate, means connecting the top plate to the base plate, and a window formed in the top plate for framing said numerals when the plates are connected together.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the connecting means includes a pair of bosses extending upwardly from the bottom plate, said bosses having outwardly projecting sidewalls, and a pair of recesses formed in the upper plate, said recesses having inwardly flaring sidewalls, said bosses seating in said recesses to hold the plates together.
 5. The combination of claim 3 wherein the top plate has edges which are beveled so as not to protrude upwardly from the ground.
 6. In a hole of a golf course including ground having a tee, a green spaced away from the tee, a fairway positioned between the tee and the green, and apparatus for determining the distance the ball has been driven from the tee, comprising a zero base marker mounted in the ground at the front of the tee, indicia on the zero base marker indicating that it is the zero base marker, at least one fairway marker mounted in the ground on the fairway marker at a distance from the base marker, indicia on the fairway marker indicating the distance from said base marker to said fairway marker, and means for mounting said marker flush with the ground.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a second fairway marker is mounted flush with the ground in the fairway at a distance from the middle of the green, and indicia on said second fairway marker indicating the distance from the middle of the green to said second fairway marker.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said markers include a base plate, said mounting means includes a plurality of pins having a cone-shaped barb on the end extending downwardly from the marker base plate for anchoring the base plate in the ground, said indicia includes numerals extending upwardly from the base plate to indicate distance, a top plate, means connecting the top plate to the base plate, and a window formed in the top plate for framing said numerals when the plates are connected together.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the connecting means includes a pair of bosses extending upwardly from the bottom plate, said bosses having outwardly projecting sidewalls, and a pair of recesses formed in the upper plate, said recesses having inwardly flaring sidewalls, said bosses seating in said recesses to hold the plates together.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the top plates have edges which are beveled so as to not protrude upwardly from the ground. 